Tampa Divorce, Family, Criminal & More
A law firm practicing exclusively in divorce and family law was established in 1997 by Lynette Silon-Laguna. It is now known as All Family Law Group, P.A. We have a firm composed of experienced and knowledgeable Tampa divorce attorneys, as well as family law lawyers, and legal staff who excel in their desire to provide the best and most responsive representation of our clients. We are pleased to provide the following links and resources for the benefit of individuals and families seeking information about divorce and family law. It is our hope that these resources are helpful to you and answer questions you may have. If you need advice or representation, please call 813-672-1900 or email our office to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case with one of our experienced Tampa divorce lawyers. We are here to help!
Divorce and Family Law
At The Florida Bar website, you can download several informative pamphlets on family law topics, including Divorce in Florida, Parenting and Divorce and Adoption in Florida.
Family law forms that were developed for use by pro se persons who have very simple cases. Your guide to Florida Divorce Forms.
Click here for an online Florida Child Support Calculator to estimate the amount of child support which may be ordered in your case. You will need to know the incomes of both parents as well as the monthly costs of daycare and the children’s health insurance paid by both parents to use the calculator. Note: this is an estimate only. The actual amount awarded in your case may be different based upon a number of other factors which cannot easily be factored into a formula.
If you are in complete agreement, do not have children and you do not require alimony, then you may qualify for a simplified divorce. Note that if you do proceed with a Simplified Divorce, you will not be able to amend your paperwork after it is filed and you will both waive your right to a trial and appeals.
General information on child support is provided by the Florida Department of Revenue. For help with child support enforcement, you may want to try the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement. You can also contact our office for immediate legal assistance in getting child support paid.
If the parent responsible for paying child support has disappeared, the Federal Parent Locator Service may be able to help.
To learn more about the process for foster care placement or agency adoption, visit the website of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
If you would like to handle your divorce or family matter on your own, pro se, the Family Law Forms site will give you the forms with explanations on how to complete them and in general how to proceed in your action. However, it is always better to be represented by an attorney if at all possible for your divorce or family law matter to assure that you are following the procedure correctly, that any agreement is legally binding and that the agreement is fair to you. Once the divorce or family matter is finalized, it is very difficult to make changes to what has been ordered or agreed upon.
The State of Florida offers a Divorce Guide with information and resources for families in divorce situations.
To file for a divorce or family law matter in Florida, you must be a resident for six consecutive months. Click here for the State of Florida Residency Guide.
Click on Florida Divorce Records Search to obtain a divorce record for any divorce in the State of Florida.
Often, when getting a divorce, one person may retain the family home and/or other residential property and may have to refinance it under an agreement or a court order. This article, Best Mortgage Refinance of 2023, in Money Magazine may help you find the best refinance option.
If you are over 50 and going through divorce, the rate of which has doubled since 1990, can have an outsize impact on your financial security. Indeed, parting ways with your spouse can potentially halve your assets while doubling your expenses, which can be especially detrimental when you don’t have decades to regroup and rebuild. “After a long marriage, there’s a greater likelihood that much of a couple’s wealth resides in assets acquired together over the years,” said Bob Barth, a Schwab wealth strategist based in Orlando, Florida. See his article on Divorce Over 50 and impact on retirement.
All parents who are going through a divorce, paternity or custody matter must take a Parenting Class. It is called the Florida Parent Education And Family Stabilization Course and it must be approved by the Department of Children and Families. The law that prescribes this course can be found in Section 61.21 of the Florida Statutes. The following are a few of the popular providers:
- Coparenting on Purpose
- Florida Department of Children and Families
- ParentEDucation
- Miscellaneous Parenting Course Providers
- The Center for Divorce Education
Social Media providing advice for families:
Divorce Support Groups:
Divorce Support Events near Tampa, FL
Domestic Violence Assistance
Domestic Violence is exploding now due to the Stay at Home Orders issued throughout the United States. People who are not normally together all of the time are now together 24/7. In addition, the extreme emotional and economic stress resulting from this pandemic leads to more domestic violence in the home.
If you need help and support with a domestic violence issue, get to a safe place and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. You can also contact our office for help with a protective injunction. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Tampa Bankruptcy Resources
As well as practicing in divorce and family law, we also practice in consumer, Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Unfortunately, divorce can sometimes leave your finances and credit devastated or they may be devastated for any number of reasons which you have no control over.
Bankruptcies in the Tampa Bay area are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. Download the court’s Bankruptcy Basics Guide for basic information on federal bankruptcy laws, such as the different chapters (7, 11, 12, 13) under which a bankruptcy case can be filed, along with some answers to common questions about the process for bankruptcy.
For more Bankruptcy Basics and information on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 , click on these links from the American Bar Association.
Consumer Bankruptcy in Florida is a pamphlet offered by The Florida Bar. It includes informative sections on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and provides helpful tips on how to rebuild your credit following a bankruptcy.
To view the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, go to the U.S. House of Representatives’ U.S. Code page and click on the PDF button for Title 11. Click here to go straight to individual portions of the Bankruptcy Code, such as Chapter 7 straight bankruptcy or Chapter 13 adjustment of debts.
All of the proceedings and procedures in a bankruptcy matter are governed by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. These rules cover matters such as a discharge of debt under Chapter 7, the confirmation of a Chapter 13 debt adjustment plan, or the section 341 Meeting of Creditors.
The United States Trustee Program is responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases. Visit this site to learn about the U.S. Trustee and the federal bankruptcy system.
An organization called NeighborWorks America has partnered with the Ad Council and other groups to create a public awareness campaign called foreclosure help and hope. They also staff a 24-hour hotline to provide foreclosure intervention assistance and connect homeowners with local housing counselors.
The FDIC also provides helpful information to consumers regarding mortgages and loans. Their website contains information on predatory lending, and how to obtain a lien release.
The federal government offers many programs under the Making Home Affordable umbrella, including the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA), and Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). These programs offer opportunities to get a loan modification, re-fi, or get out of your mortgage obligation without foreclosure, such as through a short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or cash for keys arrangement. Keep in mind, however, that banks are not required to make any modifications under these programs, and you may have better success hiring an experienced Tampa bankruptcy attorney to help you.
Important, before you file for bankruptcy, read this article on spending money before filing for Chapter 7.
